It makes a tremendous amount of sense for the St. Louis Cardinals to trade their elite closer, Ryan Helsley, this offseason. His value has never been higher than it is now. The Cardinals are highly unlikely to emerge as a legit contender for a 2025 postseason spot, and Helsley can walk as a free agent after the '25 season. This is the right time to cash in on Helsley in a deal that would give the Cardinals at least a couple of young trade acquisitions that can strengthen their future. It's imperative for the STL front office to take the long view here.

In this video I discuss the only two reasons why it would make sense for the Cardinals to hold onto Helsley -- and those reasons do not make sense. And for those who prefer keeping Helsley with the idea of flipping him to a desperate contender at the 2025 deadine ... well, that strategy could blow up if he suffers a substantial injury. And that's always a risk with high-velocity relievers. Thank you for watching, subscribing and commenting.